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June 19, 2018

Applications For GIPA Master’s Degree Program in Multimedia Journalism and Media Management

The U.S. Embassy in Armenia is pleased to announce that the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA) is soliciting applications from Armenian citizens for a master’s degree program in Multimedia Journalism and Media Management offered by the Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management (CSJMM).

The Multimedia Journalism and Media Management MA program gives students a solid foundation for critical and innovative thinking. It provides journalistic and managerial knowledge and skills to prepare for today’s multimedia environment. It also gives students a critical understanding of emerging concepts and media theories shaping the future role of journalists and media managers. A large component of the program will take place at the newly opened Multimedia Education Center (MEC).

The uniqueness of the program is its hands-on teaching methodology. Moreover, students can apply their knowledge and skills in a state-of-the-art multimedia lab. They can produce print and broadcast stories, including short documentaries, using new technology. Students also have the opportunity to apply their reporting skills and management skills when working for Radio GIPA, the only radio station connected to a university in Georgia. Student media offers not only the possibility to fulfill a professional portfolio for future career possibilities, but also a platform for independent and experimental media production.

Up to six Armenian students will be selected for the program, which will be offered in four semesters from September 2018 to May 2020. The program will be held in Georgia from September 2018-December 2019, with the fourth semester conducted as a self-guided project in Armenia. Students will return to Georgia for the defense of their thesis/ final project in May 2020. While resident at GIPA, students will have access to computer, audio and video equipment, the Internet, and a journalism library.

The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan provides tuition support and stipend for the selected participants for duration of studies in Georgia.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

Armenian citizenship and residency;

Completed your BA studies by the start of the grant;

Complete online application, including research project proposal for final semester;

Three reference letters;

Completed or deferred military service (for male applicants)

Strong English language skills, as demonstrated at an oral interview and/or by a written exam, are required;

You’ll need to have these items ready before you begin the application process:

A personal statement describing why you want to study at GIPA.

Three people who will submit a letter of recommendation for you. These should be people who can speak to your academic abilities and professional goals.

If you have them, your most recent test scores for English to prove your B2 level proficiency in writing, listening, and grammar skills.

All applications, including references, undergo technical and academic reviews. Candidates who satisfy all requirements will be interviewed by the Embassy CSJMM Committee. The Committee will submit the names of the selected finalists to the GIPA in the United States for final approval. Selected applicants will be notified of final approval and individual grants will be signed with the approved applicants.

SELECTION CRITERIA:

The following factors are considered: professional qualifications, research proposal (quality, feasibility), how the acquired knowledge will be used upon return, and English language competence. Preference will be given to candidates working or seeking to work as journalists, rather than in media management. Additional preference will be given to candidates from outside Yerevan and those with little professional journalistic experience. Those with academic study or professional background in business and economics are encouraged to apply.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

With the assistance of the U.S. government and the American National Academy of Public Administration, the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs was established in 1994 as a non-governmental, non-profit educational institution with the purpose of creating a cadre of highly trained civil servants to help support democratic and market reforms in the Caucasus.

The Caucasus School of Journalism and Media Management (CSJMM) was established at GIPA in 2001 to support the development of professional media in the Caucasus through educational and training programs in journalism, communication, and media management. The school’s philosophy is that journalists—well-grounded in skills to report fairly and accurately—will raise the level of journalism where they practice and will serve the public by providing truthful information and upholding the highest ethical standards of the profession.